Friday, January 25, 2008

This statement is timely and significant. The foreign ministers of the UK, US and France have just issued a joint statement concerning Burma at the World Economic Forum. I have reproduced the statement in its entirety.

JOINT STATEMENT ON BURMA BY THE UK, US AND FRENCHFOREIGN MINISTERS AT THE WORLD ECONOMICFORUM IN DAVOS

The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos is a uniqueevent. No other occasion brings together so many of the world’s leadersfrom all fields. For over three decades now, these meetings haveprovided a global platform for collaboration and action to addressinternational priorities of concern to us all.

One such priority is the urgent need for progress towards a transition todemocracy and improved human rights in Burma. The fact that we havechosen to write about this issue, with so many competing priorities,should underline the strength of our governments’ determination tosupport the people of Burma in their pursuit of a peaceful, prosperousand democratic future. We have repeatedly made clear that the situationin Burma cannot continue, and that we remain committed to helping thepeople of Burma.

It is now more than four months since the world was horrified by theviolent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Burma. The dramaticpictures seen around the world of the brutality directed against peacefulprotestors, including monks and nuns, were truly shocking. We cannotafford to forget. We must convince the Burmese regime to meet thedemands of the international community and respect the basic rights ofBurma’s people.

The UN Security Council in October spelled out its expectations andreiterated those expectations on January 17. First, the early release ofall political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the creation ofconditions for a genuine dialogue between the Government and theopposition. Second, full co-operation and constructive engagement withthe UN. Third, the need for the regime to address the economic,humanitarian and human rights concerns of the Burmese people.Several months on, however, we find the regime has met none of thesedemands.

The regime claims to be moving ahead with its roadmap to civilian rule.However the process, already 14 years old, is open-ended, and manykey political actors, not least Aung San Suu Kyi, are excluded. Therecan be little doubt that only genuine and inclusive dialogue can delivernational reconciliation and stability for Burma and its neighbours.We call on all those attending the World Economic Forum todemonstrate that, while the regime may be indifferent to the suffering ofthe Burmese people, the world is not.

We ask you to support the return to Burma by UN Special AdviserGambari as soon as possible, and to urge the regime to cooperate fullywith him and the UN. We call on the regime to act on therecommendations of UN Human Rights Envoy Pinheiro; to release allpolitical prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; and to launch asubstantive, time-bound dialogue with democratic leaders and ethnicminority representatives, as called for in Aung San Suu Kyi’s statementof November 8.

A unified call for genuine and peaceful political reconciliation and reformwill be heard in Burma. We would not live up to our values if we ignoredBurma's plight.

DAVID MILIBAND CONDOLEEZZA RICE BERNARD KOUCHNER

Burma and other countries in the region take notice: Europe and America will not let the plight of the Burmese be ignored any longer. That's the message this statement sends.